Chess Puzzle #0fn0y — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen e6; rook f1; pawns a3/b7/g4. Black: king h8; queen c5; rook b8; bishop g6; pawns c6/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb7 — rook b8→b7, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen e6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Be8 (bishop g6→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen c8→e8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen c5→f8).
4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, fork, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/1P4pp/2p1Q1b1/2qp4/6P1/P7/7K/5R2 b - - 0 35

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